First thing’s first. I’m a White Sox fan, and I took on the assignment of prescribing what the Cubs need to keep winning as an exercise in objectivity (or to try and magnify each flaw – viciously). You decide. But the truth is, it’s a very intriguing season when both Chicago’s North Siders and South Siders are in first place of their respective divisions. Oh and they meet for the first time this season in about four hours.

But before I descend into a point-by-point comparison of the two teams, allow me to switch gears and focus on the Cubbies.

Consistency is the key word. Lou Piniella’s Cubs hadn’t been swept all season until that pesky team from Florida took them to task this week. They did lose two in a row in a few occasions, but they usually followed those mini-streaks with a healthy string of wins (usually more than three) that have facilitated for that first-place 45 and 28 record (as of Friday, June 20, 10 a.m.).

On a statistical level, the Cubs are also on top. First in the National League in runs scored, team average, team on-base percentage, and second in RBIs; and first in team ERA and batting average against. So in essence, all they have to do is keep the engine running and coast into the playoffs. If you do the math, they have to play slightly better than .500 ball for the rest of the season, and they’ll win around 90 games. In a division where they already lead third-place Pittsburgh by double digits, and where an injured Albert Pujols won’t be a threat, the Cubs are almost a shoo-in to win it (and don’t give me any crap for the Brewers, their pitching is shoddy).

If they want to keep their consistency, however, the Cubs are gonna have to do something about injuries. Carlos Zambrano visits the doctor today to find out if his shoulder can hold up for the rest of the season. He’ll miss one start, but the tension in Cub land is palpable, almost to a point where the season is dependent on Big Z’s ability to go the distance this year. And don’t forget that Alfonso Soriano is out with a broken hand (though he may start taking batting practice on Monday).

It’s no surprise, then, that the Cubs have sent scout to watch pitchers like A.J. Burnett, and are increasingly being mentioned in trade talks for pitching.

But with the season going as it is, the Cubs are on a roll. Their free agent signings are producing, their starter-turned-closer has finally bit the bullet and gotten the hang of it. The fans are wired with expectations. And yes, even cross-town rivals like myself like the possibility of the Cubs and White Sox meeting in the World Series. So what do the Cubs need? Maybe a little hocus pocus to keep it going. Or another arm, whichever comes first.

-What They Need Index-

Is it really only Wednesday? Alas, so it would seem. Let’s have some lunchtime linkage:

Barry Zito needs himself a slumpbuster. BabesLoveBaseball has some suggestions.

If that doesn’t work out, the Fresno Beehive would like him to come to Fresno. The AAA Grizzlies need an ace, Barry!

Another installment in Deadspin’s excellent series of horrifying moments in sports journalism, this post features a deaf Ken Griffey Jr, a naked Jay Buhner, and a mostly-naked Lou Piniella.

The 25th anniversary of Lee Elia’s famous tirade (Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin’ world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here!) brought you by FanIQ.

Do-gooding HBW alert: Kelli Pedroia.

Beyond the Box Score says Ryan Zimmerman’s not sucky, just unlucky.

Some great ballparks to check out for that minor league road trip you’ve been planning, courtesy of Bus Leagues Baseball.

Boston’s DL payroll exceeded the payroll of the entire Marlins ballclub. But hey, at least it was cheaper than New York’s DL payroll. (Center Field)

And as always, I like to read good stuff. So if you have some, share it.

Chicago Tribune baseball writer Dave van Dyck is reporting today that both Lou Piniella and Alex Rodriguez could end up in Chicago. But with different teams.

Van Dyck says the Cubs are very interested in Piniella (hardly news), who is battling former Marlins manager Joe Girardi for the team’s vacant manager opening.

He says the Yankees passed on Paniella, because the team didn’t want to give the impression that they were hiring him to appease A-Rod, who it has been reported doesn’t like current Yankees manager Joe Torre.

Meanwhile, even though the Yankees insist A-Rod will stay with the team, White Sox GM Kenny Williams reportedly has been jonesin’ to see A-Rod in Chicago for quite some time.

Williams still believes Rodriguez, only 31 years old, would be a hero in Chicago, and never has been afraid of criticism for making a big splash for a big name.

The White Sox would have much more than most teams to offer the Yankees—certainly more than the talent-starved Cubs—in return, including fellow third baseman Crede. Coincidence or not, Crede also is represented by Boras, not a friendly face among Sox executives.

But Boras could do both of his clients a favor getting Rodriguez to a less-pressurized situation in Chicago. Here Rodriguez could move back to shortstop and get away from a sour situation in New York, where he and Jeter are seen as opposite forces.

As for Crede, he could get a long-term contract with the Yankees, something the Sox may not be willing to do with Fields on the horizon. The Sox also might be willing to part with a Yankee trade necessity, a starting pitcher in Garcia.

With the Rangers still paying a huge chunk of Rodriguez’s salary, the Sox would be looking at a $66.6 million commitment for four years. Could they handle that? Yes, especially if they shuffle off Crede’s potential contract and Garcia’s $10 million for 2007.

Would A-Rod be a good fit in Chicago? He could go back to playing short stop, which would make him happy. He would have plenty of protection in a lineup that features Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome, and he would be playing in a city that isn’t quite as prone to booing as New York. So, yeah, he’d probably do just fine in Chicago.

Would the Yankees agree to move A-Rod for Crede and Garcia? That’s hard to say, but you’d have to think they’d be tempted. This could be a case of addition by subtraction, and getting a bonefide 3b and top of the line starting pitcher in return for a clubhouse cancer isn’t a bad swap.

In a recent column, SI writer Jon Heyman listed his top ten teams most likely to trade for A-Rod. He listed the White Sox ninth, saying that Rodridguez probably won’t end up there because he and manager Ozzie Guillen don’t get along. Guillen ripped A-Rod for playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The two have pretended to be on good terms since, but Heyman isn’t buying it.

Could A-Rod’s rocky relationship with Guillen keep him out of Chicago? Would it prevent him from waiving his no-trade clause?

Or will the greatest player of his generation move on to his fourth team at the age of 31?